Review #246: SMWS Ardmore 11 66.84 Rich and Slightly Naughty

Highland - 11 - NCF - NCA - $130 - 61%

Ardmore is a peated highland whiskey who is the blending workhorse for Teacher's.  Ardmore is one of the more inconsistent distilleries out there. This was distilled in 2004 and matured for 11 years in a white wine hogshead and then finished in a 2nd fill oloroso sherry butt. OK, that is an unusual combination, lets see how the juice tastes. 

Color - Mahogany 

Nose -  Dates, white wine, welch's white grape juice, lemons, a match head lighting, grapefruit, creme brule sugar

Palate - Sweet, stewed pears, chocolate, plums, cloves, wonderful mouthfeel

Finish - Long - Christmas cakes, caramel, raisins

Overall - 7 - This is a strange one but it somehow works.  It is rich, sweet and coating. The sweetness edges towards being cloying but never crosses the line for me. The peat on this one is covered up by the wine and sherry finish.  I don't know if I would buy a bottle if available but I wouldn't regret it if I had.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16